Cancer related fatigue measurement scales: A systematic review.

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common symptom experienced by all the cancer patients at all stages of the disease and in survivors. Fatigue from cancer is one of the understated, underestimated, and least managed. Several scales have been developed to measure CRF, but they vary in the quality of psychometric properties, ease of administration, and dimensions of CRF. This systematic review explores the validity and reliability of the different CRF measurement scales. A systematic review methodology was followed to identify the scales that have been validated to measure CRF. Three separate databases PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar searches were performed using different medical subject heading terms. Articles were analyzed for validity and reliability. A total of 1294 articles from three different searches identified 15 scales (unidimensional and multidimensional). Each scale varied by its psychometric properties, items, scale type, dimension, site of cancer, and population in which it is validated. Most of the scales had been validated in mixed cancer populations. Some scales are insensitive to differences in fatigue to cancer stages. Few scales are burdensome for the advanced cancer patients. In this study, 15 CRF scales were identified. Validity and reliability are varied by each questionnaire. The ideal and accepted item numbers, scale, and domains are not established. The psychometric properties of each measure require further consideration. More studies are needed to explore fatigue scales with many populations.

Impact of relaxation therapy on premenstrual symptoms: A systematic review.

Relaxation therapy (RT) is considered to be helpful in the management of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). This systematic review (SR) was conducted to find the impact of RT on PMS management, which could be utilized in clinical and community populations. Five major databases like Google Scholar, PubMed, ResearchGate, Scopus, and Web of Science were used as search engines. The Joanna Briggs Institute checklist is used to analyze the quality of articles selected for this review. Only 35 different studies among 71 relevant articles which focused on the topic were selected for this SR. All of the 35 different trials reported that the selected RTs, namely Laura Mitchell, Jacobson, Benson, relaxation unnamed, yoga, aerobic exercise, and massage, significantly decreased PMS. The outcome of this SR suggests that the selected seven RTs effectively relieve PMS and ensure a productive life for all reproductive women.